Opposition Conscription_in_the_United_States

blessed peacemakers george bellows, masses, 1917

the conscription act of 1917 passed in june. conscripts court-martialed army if refused wear uniforms, bear arms, perform basic duties, or submit military authority. convicted objectors given long sentences of 20 years in fort leavenworth. in 1918 secretary baker created board of inquiry question conscientious objectors sincerity. military tribunals tried men found board insincere variety of offenses, sentencing 17 death, 142 life imprisonment, , 345 penal labor camps.

in 1917, number of radicals , anarchists, including emma goldman, challenged new draft law in federal court, arguing direct violation of thirteenth amendment s prohibition against slavery , involuntary servitude. supreme court unanimously upheld constitutionality of draft act in selective draft law cases on january 7, 1918. decision said constitution gave congress power declare war , raise , support armies. court, relying partly on vattel s law of nations, emphasized principle of reciprocal rights , duties of citizens:

it may not doubted conception of government , duty citizen includes reciprocal obligation of citizen render military service in case of need, , right compel it. more state proposition absolutely unnecessary in view of practical illustration afforded universal legislation effect in force.

conscription unpopular left-wing sectors @ start, many socialists jailed obstructing recruitment or enlistment service . famous eugene debs, head of socialist party of america, ran president in 1920 atlanta prison cell. had sentence commuted time served , released on december 25, 1921, president warren g. harding.

the industrial workers of world mobilized obstruct war effort through strikes in war-related industries , not registering.